Coffee machine

ABSTRACT

The coffee machine has at least one infusion unit and at least one filter holder that is manually connected to and disconnected from the infusion unit for preparation of coffee, and it comprises at least one added support element of the filter holder for keeping it attached to the coffee machine when the filter holder is not connected to the infusion unit, said added support element comprising heating means for heating said filter holder to a predetermined temperature. The additional support element can be implemented also as a standalone element and, therefore, not connected to the coffee machine.

This U.S. non-provisional application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/037,060 filed on May 17, 2016, which is a U.S.National Stage of PCT/IB2015/053972 filed May 27, 2015, which claimspriority to and the benefit of Italian patent application No.MI2014A000972 filed May 27, 2014, the contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coffee machine. More specifically,the present invention refers to a coffee machine having improvedconditions of beverage dispensing. As known, depending on devices beingin a machine coffee and their intended use, existing coffee machines canbe substantially subdivided into three main categories: automaticmachines, manual machines, or semiautomatic machines.

KNOWN BACKGROUND ART

The manual coffee machine requires that the filter holder is manuallyrefilled every time a coffee is made, whereas the refilling in anautomatic machine is automatic.

A coffee machine of semiautomatic type allows both operations.

In particular, the operation system of these machines provides for thehot water contacting the powdered coffee to cover a specific path inorder to make the infusion. The obtained coffee beverage is sensible todifferent parameters used in the process, such as for example the usedcoffee quality, its grain size, the water temperature and pressureduring the infusion cycle.

Nowadays coffee machines present on the market include a filter holder,that the operator manually connects to the infusion unit of the machine.

The filter holder can be filled manually with powdered coffee andsubsequently connected to the infusion unit or filled automatically withpowdered coffee only after its correct positioning on the infusion unit.

In this latter case, powdered coffee is then compressed and then theinfusion unit releases a predetermined water amount at temperature andpressure that are optimal for preparing coffee with the bestorganoleptic characteristics.

In both cases, once the coffee has been prepared the filter holder ismanually detached from the machine and the exhausted powdered coffee isthrown away.

In this way the filter holder can be reused for preparing anothercoffee.

This kind of machine can be equipped with one or more infusion unit and,consequently, with several filter holders.

Usually for each infusion unit there are several filter holders, atleast one for espresso coffees and one for double espresso coffees.

In these machines if the filter holder is at room temperature, forexample when the first coffee is made after a time interval that hasallowed the cooling thereof, its mass tends to cool the hot water duringthe infusion process thereby causing a decline of qualitative featuresof the coffee made.

In machines up to now manufactured, the filter holder is maintained hotby keeping it attached to the infusion unit of the coffee machine. Ifseveral filter holders are available in the machine equipment per eachinfusion unit, it is evident that only one will be maintained at workingtemperature, whereas the others will be at room temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical purpose the present invention proposes is to implement acoffee machine in which the water of the infusion unit is not cooledduring its transition through the filter holder.

As part of this purpose, an object of the present invention is toimplement a coffee machine that is able to make a coffee beverage with afilter holder having always an optimal temperature independently of itsusage frequency.

Another object is to implement a coffee machine performing a heating ofthe filter holder during its use so that the quality of coffees made canbe standardized.

Another object of the invention is to implement a coffee machine inwhich the added support element for heating a filter holder is presenton the machine in an ergonomic position for the user.

Not the last object of the invention is to implement a coffee machineusing mainly its components for heating the filter holder.

This purpose, as well as these and other objects are achieved by acoffee machine having at least one infusion unit and at least one filterholder that is manually connected to and disconnected from said infusionunit for the preparation of coffee, characterized by comprising at leastone added support element of said filter holder for keeping it attachedto the coffee machine when said filter holder is not connected to saidinfusion unit, said added support element comprising heating means forheating said filter holder to a predetermined temperature.

The heating support element is placed in a position outside of thecoffee delivery space, i.e. in a position in which the filter holder,during the heating thereof, does not interfere with normal operations ofcoffee, or other beverage, delivery. In an embodiment of the invention,the heating support element can be used for a first filter holder,whereas a second filter holder is engaged on the infusion unit, forexample for a beverage dispensing. Preferably, said heating supportelement (4) is arranged above or sideways to said at least one infusionunit (2).

According to an embodiment of the coffee machine of the invention, theheating support element comprises a housing for said filter holder; thefilter holder can be inserted partially, or completely, in said housing.Preferably, at least part of the profile of the housing of the filterholder has a shape complementary to that one of the filter holder inorder to improve the heating thereof.

According to another embodiment of the coffee machine of the invention,the heating support element comprises a protruding element thatprotrudes from the machine, such protruding element can be heated and afilter holder can be placed thereon, so that the heating protrudingelement is housed at least partially in the cavity of the filter holderwhen the filter holder is engaged with the heating support element. Alsothis embodiment of the invention can provide that the whole assembly,i.e. the filter holder and the heating element, is housed in the bodymachine in a way not to interfere with the delivery operations ofbeverages from filter holders in use, i.e. those ones engaged with theinfusion units.

The claims depending from the main claim better specify that the coffeemachine, according to the invention, comprises means of automaticfilling of the filter holder with a predetermined dosage of powderedcoffee.

In particular, the means of automatic filling comprise a grinder forproducing coffee powder and an element for transferring the powder fromthe grinder to the filter holder when the latter is connected to theinfusion unit.

The heating means comprise at least one resistance combined with thesupport element, which is activated independently of the operation ofthe infusion unit, or else a tube for conveying hot water combined withthe support element and circulating water simultaneously with theoperation of said infusion unit.

Conveniently, the added support element comprises engaging means for theengagement with the filter holder that are defined by bayonet connectionmembers or else by slide connection members or by a magnet or anelectromagnet activated by the electric power that activates theresistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be moreevident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive,embodiment of the coffee machine of the invention depicted forillustration purposes only, and without limitation, in the attacheddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic front elevation view of the coffee machineaccording to the invention, in which the added support element of thefilter holder of the invention can be seen;

FIG. 1B is a schematic front elevation view of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of a particular of the embodiment of FIG.1B;

FIG. 2 è a view of the added support element that is heated by anelectric resistance and has bayonet connection members according to afirst embodiment of the invention, and of the respective filter holder;

FIG. 3 is a view of the added support element according to anotherembodiment of the invention with connection members that connect withthe filter holder and are defined by a magnet or electromagnet;

FIG. 4 is a view of the added support element that is heated by hotwater according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the filter holder that can becombined with the added support element according to another embodimentof the invention, with the respective filter holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1A and 1B the coffee machine, generallydepicted with reference number 1, comprises in a way per se known one ormore infusion units 2 to which the respective filter holders 3 forpreparing the coffee beverage are manually connected or disconnected bythe operator. The filter holders 3 are provided with a handle 13 in away known in the art.

Below the infusion units 2 there is a space S, named work space, inwhich containers (not shown) for the dispensed beverage are placed; thecontainers, usually cups or glasses having different size, are leant ona shelf 15 below the infusion units; the shelf 14 delimits the workspace S from below. As better described hereinafter, the heating supportelements 4 are preferably arranged above the infusion units (see, forexample, FIGS. 1A and 1B) and are anyway arranged outside of the workspace S, i.e. of the beverage dispensing area.

The coffee machine described hereinafter is of the type comprisingautomatic filling means to fill the filter holder with a predetermineddosage of powdered coffee.

In particular, the automatic filling means comprise a grinder forproducing coffee powder and an element for transferring the powder fromthe grinder to the filter holder when the latter is connected to theinfusion unit.

Both the grinder and the transferring element, the latter being forexample a conveying tube of telescopic or positionable type or somethingelse, are not represented in the drawings.

Furthermore, hereinafter for sake of simplicity a coffee machine of theabove mentioned type will be described, having only two infusion unitsand its respective filter holders.

Nonetheless, the infusion units and the filter holders can be of anynumber depending on needs.

As mentioned, the filter holder can be filled automatically by means ofa grinder but, in case the coffee machine has not it, this does notdismiss the possible manual filling of the filter holder by theoperator.

In particular, the coffee machine 1 has at least one infusion unit 2 andat least one filter holder 3, the latter being manually connected to anddisconnected from the infusion unit 2 by the operator for preparingcoffee.

The coffee machine 1 comprises at least one additional support element 4of the filter holder 3 in order to allow its retaining to the coffeemachine when the filter holder 3 is not used and is detached from theinfusion unit 2.

Obviously the coffee machine can have several support elements 4depending on needs. The embodiment of FIG. 1A is provided with twosupport elements 4, whereas that one of FIG. 1B has only one additionalsupport element 4.

The additional support element 4 comprises heating means to lead thefilter holder 3 up to a predetermined temperature before the automaticor manual filling thereof with powdered coffee 15.

This arrangement prevents the infusion water from being cooled by themass of the filter holder 3 also after the filter holder 3 has cooledafter the last coffee has been prepared.

In this way the organoleptic characteristics of the made coffee arecompletely preserved, independently of the time lapse occurring betweena coffee and the subsequent one.

In a preferred solution, the heating means comprise at least oneresistance 5 combined with the support element 4, the resistance beingactivated independently of the operation of the infusion unit 2.

The resistance 5 is inserted in a plug 6 that can be replaced easily incase of failure or malfunction. Obviously, in a support element 4 therecan be several plugs 6 having an arrangement adapted to optimallytransfer the heat to the filter holder 3.

In a constructive variation shown in FIG. 4, the heating means comprisea tube 7 for conveying hot water, said tube being combined with saidsupport element 4.

The hot water can be circulated concurrently with the operation of theinfusion unit so that the elements pre-existing in the coffee machinecan be used for its circulation and heating, so that costs andconstruction complexity can be kept down.

The added support element 4 comprises engaging means, generally denotedwith reference number 8, with the filter holder to allow the latter tobe connected to the support element 4 during heating in the same way forthe connection to the infusion unit 2.

For example, if the filter holder 3 is connected to the infusion unit bya bayonet mount, the engaging means comprise bayonet connection members9, 9′ allowing the reciprocal connection between the support element 4and the filter holder 3 through a roto-translation of the latter. Thissolution is shown in FIG. 1A and in FIG. 2. These figures describe asupport element 4 provided with the male portion, i.e. with the two tabs9 of the bayonet mount. The female portion 9′ of the mount is on thefilter holder 3.

In the example of the embodiment of FIGS. 1B and 1C, the filter holder 3is provided with tabs 9 for the bayonet mounting in the infusion units2. In this case, the support element 4 is provided with two guides 16accommodating the tabs 9 of the filter holder 3 and it is formed by aspace inside the body of the machine 1 that can house the filter holder3 in order to heat it, for example when the filter holder is not engagedwith the infusion unit; preferably, the support element 4 is at least inpart complementarily-shaped with the filter holder 3. The filter holder3 is inserted in the support element 4 through a translation movement,in fact the tabs 9 and the guides 16 form slide connection means betweenthe machine 1 and the filter holder 3.

Generally, two types of support elements 4 are provided. Referring toFIGS. 1A, 2-5, the shown support elements provide a protruding elementshaped so that to be housed at least in part inside the filter holder.In the embodiment, the majority of the surface heated by the supportelement will be in contact with that one inside of the filter holder,thereby transmitting heat to that surface by conduction.

In another embodiment type exemplified by the support elements shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C, the support element 4 has a structure inverted to thatone discussed above; in fact, the support element houses the filterholder 3 within itself. In this embodiment the housing is preferablyshaped complementarily to the filter holder; the outer walls of thefilter holder can be in contact with the walls of the support element.In any case, this embodiment has the advantage that the filter holder ismostly housed in the support element and that the heating happens alsoby convection of the heat in the support element-housing, as can beeasily seen in FIGS. 1B and 1C.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1B and 1C, the filter holder is inserted inthe housing support element 4 preferably through slide means,analogously to what described referring to FIG. 5. The sliding insertionmeans suitable for the invention are, for example and without limitingthe invention to this example, those described in WO 2015/055557 in thename of the present Applicant. Preferably, as described at page 5 and infigures of WO '557, the sliding means comprise two opposing and coplanarguide arranged parallel one to another. Each of the two guides canpreferably have an inlet zone defined by at least one inclined surfaceand, in particular, by two inclined surfaces, a lower one and an upperone, to define a simplified introduction of the tabs 9, 10′ into theguides 16, 10″.

Preferably, the guides have end positions defined by a wall for stoppingthe tabs and positioning correctly the filter holder.

In order to activate the heating of the support element 4 there can bedetecting means to detect the presence of the filter holder in theguides 16, 10″ or on the support element 4.

In a constructive variation shown in FIG. 5, the support element 4 isarranged above the body machine, as in the embodiments of FIG. 1A andFIGS. 2-4; in this embodiment, analogously to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C, the engaging means 8 comprise slide connection members10 so that to simplify the connection between the support element andthe filter holder without fatiguing the operator with rotary movements.

In another constructive variation shown in FIG. 3, the engaging means 8comprise a magnet or electromagnet 11 activated by the same electricpower activating the resistance 5. This embodiment provides that atleast part of the filter holder comprises, or is made of magneticmaterial (for example magnetic steel) so that to be held in position. Inthis case the operator has only to move the filter holder 3 closer tothe support element 8 that will attract it to itself by means ofmagnetic attractive force. In case the filter holder is made ofnon-magnetic material, metal parts will be realized on the same in orderto allow its connection.

In case the support element 4 is assembled on the upper part 12 of themachine coffee, as denoted by way of example in FIG. 1A where it ishoused in an appropriate seat 14, the filter holder can also be retainedthereto simply by gravity with its handle 13 rested directly on theupper plane 12 of the machine 1.

The so-conceived invention is susceptible to several modifications andvariations, all falling in the scope of the inventive conception.

Moreover, all details can be replaced by technically equivalentelements.

Practically, the used materials as well as the size may be any,depending on needs.

In particular, the heating system of the above described filter holdercan be made as a self-contained element and therefore not connected tothe machine coffee.

Such a heating system has the features of the previously described one,except for having a system for controlling the temperature independentfrom the machine coffee.

1. A coffee machine having at least one infusion unit and at least onefilter holder that is manually connectable to and disconnectable fromsaid infusion unit for holding coffee and providing with said infusionunit a chamber for preparation of a coffee beverage; at least oneheating element suitable to engage said filter holder, said heatingelement comprising heating means for heating said filter holder to apredetermined temperature.
 2. The coffee machine according to the claim1, wherein said heating element is arranged above or sideways said atleast one infusion unit.
 3. The coffee machine according to claim 1,wherein said heating element comprises a housing for said filter holder,said filter holder can be at least in part inserted in said housing. 4.The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said heating elementcomprises a protruding element that protrudes from said machine, saidprotruding element being in contact with said filter holder.
 5. Thecoffee machine according to claim 4, wherein said protruding element isarranged on the upper wall of said machine,
 6. The coffee machine ofclaim 4, wherein the protruding element is at least in part positionedin a cavity of the wall of the machine.
 7. The coffee machine accordingto claim 1 further comprising a grinder for producing coffee powder anda conveyor element for transferring said coffee powder from said grinderto said filter holder when the latter is connected to said infusionunit.
 8. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said heatingelement comprises at least one resistance combined with said supportelement.
 9. The coffee machine according to claim 8, wherein saidresistance is activated independently of the operation of said infusionunit.
 10. The coffee machine according to one of claim 1, wherein saidheating element comprises a tube for conveying hot water, preferablysaid water being circulated simultaneously with the operation of saidinfusion unit.
 11. The coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein saidheating element comprises engaging means for engagement with said filterholder.
 12. The coffee machine according to claim 11, wherein saidengaging means comprise bayonet connection members.
 13. The coffeemachine according to claim 11, wherein said engaging means compriseslide connection members.
 14. The coffee machine according to claim 11,wherein said engaging means comprise a magnet or an electromagnetactivated by the electric power activating said resistance.
 15. A coffeemachine according to claim 1 comprising a heating element for heating afilter holder for a coffee machine, wherein said heating element of thefilter holder is self-contained and spaced from the coffee machine. 16.A method of preparing a coffee beverage in a machine according to claim1, wherein said machine has at least one infusion unit and at least onefilter holder that is manually connected to said infusion unit forholding coffee and providing with said infusion unit an infusion chamberfor preparation of a coffee beverage; wherein said filter holder isheated by at least one heating element suitable to engage said filterholder, said heating element comprising heating means for heating saidfilter holder to a predetermined temperature.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein said filer holder is heated before it is connected to saidinfusion unit.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein said machine has acoffee grinder and said filter holder receives ground coffee powder fromsaid grinder.